Optics Guide 3/17 - Scope Magnification and its Unintended Effects

Higher magnification is better, right? Nope! Let's explore how a scope's zoom factor and zoom ratio interact with real-world scenarios. Realizing your purpose - your quarry and your terrain - will help you find the perfect scope.

Cheat Sheet:
1. Big Animal = Low Magnification
2. Long Distance = High Magnification (unless you're really going long)
3. Mobility = Low Magnification
4. Fear Factor = Low Magnification
5. Many Opportunities = Low Magnification

Other Interactions:
1. If you have a flat trajectory within realistic distances, you can get away with higher magnification.
2. If your rig is very precise, you can get away with higher magnification.
3. Got a lot of recoil? You might prefer a lower magnification.
4. Wanna get on target more quickly? Lower magnification.
5. Wanna eat your cake and have it still? Prepare to pay a lot for a scope with a high zoom ratio.

Featured Scopes:
1. US Optics TS-8X 1-8x24mm FFP: https://shrsl.com/2ha1u
2. US Optics TS-20X 2.5-20x50mm FFP: https://shrsl.com/2d741
3. Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44mm: https://shrsl.com/2yg7x
4. Falcon S8i 1-8x24mm: https://bit.ly/3t7p75J
5. Simmons 44 Mag 6-24x44mm (replacement): https://shrsl.com/2ytiv
6. Bushnell Match Pro 6-24x50mm FFP: https://bit.ly/3eokX5l
7. Falcon M18+ 4-18x44mm FFP: https://bit.ly/3u9gOHE
8. Ultradyne C4 Sights: https://shrsl.com/1wiys
9. Bushnell TRS-25 Red Dot Sight: https://shrsl.com/1xm61
10. Mueller 8.5-25x44mm: https://shrsl.com/2y0fh
11. Bushnell Nitro MOA FFP: https://shrsl.com/2ygcc
12. Bushnell Forge 4.5-27x50mm FFP: https://shrsl.com/2csun
13. Bushnell XRS-II Tremor3 FFP: https://shrsl.com/2xngx
14. Horus HOVR 5-20x50mm: https://www.horusvision.com/products/horus-scope-bundle
15. SWFA SS 12x42mm: https://bit.ly/2PSRYgi
16. Simmons ProTarget Rimfire 4x32mm: https://shrsl.com/2ygbw

Recommended Independent Scope Reviewers:
- Cyclops Joe Rhea: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWL2TQa6Ug_qqj36AgPp2XA
- Vaughn Precision: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6AhtqBD6Ekb7MnRXPILMsA
- Kotaboy32: https://www.youtube.com/user/kotaboy32
- West Desert: https://www.youtube.com/user/1modusman1
- The Hide: https://www.youtube.com/user/5614dixienormous
- Eagle Eye: https://www.youtube.com/user/acidia609

If you want to see more videos like these, become a Patron of the Destructive Arts! For a buck or two a month, Patrons help keep the cameras running and receive sneak peeks and bonus footage. https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialRegressive

Kyle Broderick, The Social Regressive

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 What is Magnification?
01:08 Kyle's Chart
03:40 Practical Examples
11:56 Extreme Examples
15:45 Negative Interactions
18:46 The Fix
20:29 Personal Preference
23:40 Field of View
25:27 Zoom Ratio
26:50 Fixed-Power Scopes
27:48 Final Thoughts

#opticsguide #scopeguide